Perry County, IN – An early Friday morning patrol in Perry County led to an operating while intoxicated (OWI) arrest after a vehicle was found off the roadway near Saint Croix, according to Indiana State Police.
According to the Indiana State Police Jasper Post, Trooper Andrew Recker was patrolling State Road 37 early Friday, December 12, when he observed two individuals walking along the side of the road. As the trooper attempted to make contact, the two males ran. Trooper Recker then noticed a vehicle that had slid off the roadway and was stuck in a nearby yard.
Police said that while speaking with the two males, Trooper Recker observed visible signs of impairment from both individuals. An investigation at the scene determined that one of the men was the driver of the vehicle.
Authorities identified the driver as James P. Linder, 54, of New Albany, Indiana. Linder was transported to the Perry County Jail for a chemical test, according to police.
Following the test, Linder was arrested on a charge of operating while intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor. He was later transferred into the custody of the Perry County Jail staff, where he remains held on bond.
Indiana State Police reported that the arrest was made with assistance from the Perry County Sheriff’s Office. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident, and no additional charges were announced as of Friday morning.
The incident occurred near Saint Croix, a small community in Perry County located southwest of Louisville and part of southern Indiana’s rural highway network. State Road 37 is a commonly traveled route through the area, particularly during early morning hours.
As with all criminal cases, police emphasized that Linder is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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